Searching for a home online--the good, the bad and the ugly

I can't tell you how many times a buyer has called me and said, "I found this house I want to see. It is perfect' only to be told (by me) that it sold 13 months ago.

If you haven't noticed by now, a lot of what is on the internet is garbage. And that goes for listings, too. You see, what happens when we list a home is that it is sent out to many, many websites (depending on the broker's agreement). You may have heard that saying, 'what is posted on the internet, lives forever.' This is especially true for listings. The are often searchable by address, so when you type in the address, or a part of it, you get back results that often include old listings.

So what is a buyer to do? Find a Realtor who can help you navigate real, live listings via the multiple list service or who can provide a tool, such as Listingbook, that hits up against the MLS. Instead of wasting your time sifting through last year's listings and being frustrated and confused about the current market, make sure you have access to the latest data.

The only thing more frustrating than not finding the home you want is finding it--and being told it isn't available to you! Give yourself the advantage of working with a Realtor who is working for you.

 

 

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I believe that buying or selling real estate should be a GREAT EXPERIENCE. If I can help you, your friends or family buy or sell their next home in Northern Virginia, please let me know!

If you need help with a home outside of Northern Virginia, I have an extensive network of referral agents and will make sure you are working with the best!

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